It also paves the way for a "series of strikes through the autumn term and into 2015".

The move threatens to close or partially shut schools across England and Wales in the summer and well into the 2014/15 academic year - causing parents to find emergency childcare or take the day off work to look after children.

The NUT insist exams will not be disrupted, with striking teachers being able to cross the picket line to invigilate tests.

Any strike would coincide with the introduction of a new system of performance-related pay which will see national pay spines scrapped and teachers' salaries fully tied to pupils' results and behaviour.

The NUT, which has more than 300,000 members, has also been angered by escalating workload and changes to pensions that will see teachers work for longer and leave with a smaller retirement fund.

Senior union representatives are currently locked in ongoing talks with the Department for Education over a series of Coalition education reforms, although the NUT has been angered by the refusal of Mr Gove to play a direct part.

Anne Lemon, of the NUT's executive, told delegates: "If we take strike action one day and maybe another one six months later and we don't make any real progress, we've got two choices.

"One choice is that we give up. The second choice is that we step up. Our members are for stepping up."

The union backed plans to strike "in the event that significant progress is not being made" in the talks, adding that the union should "consult with members about a series of strikes through the autumn term and into 2015".

The other main teaching union - the NASUWT - has not committed to further strikes in the summer or autumn term, although it has refused to rule out industial action.

The NUT said it would hold talks with the NASUWT with a view to getting them to join any strike.

Speaking after the debate, Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "Early next term the union will seek volunteers amongst its members to lobby MPs and to run street stalls to engage with the public.

"The union will demand that Michael Gove attends talks with the unions to discuss his education policies, on workload and accountability, teacher pay including performance related pay and his unfair pension changes.

"If the strike happens it will be Michael Goveﾒs fault.

"Teacher morale is at a dangerously low ebb. Changes to pay, pensions and a working week for many teachers of 60 hours are driving many out of the classroom."

At the NASUWT annual conference in Birmingham at the weekend, activists voted in favour of taking further industrial action if the Government refuses to restore national frameworks on teachers' pay.

Chris Keates, general secretary, said: "The NASUWT will engage constructively in the discussions as our members would expect us to. But the pressure is on the Secretary of State.

"NASUWT members remain committed to maintaining and, if necessary, escalating the current industrial action campaign, including moving to further strike actionﾅ It is vitally important in the run-up to the General Election that we see all political parties committing to national frameworks of pay and conditions of service for the school workforce."

A DfE spokesman said: "Ministers have met frequently with the NUT and other unions and will continue to do so. Further strike action will only disrupt parents' lives, hold back children's education and damage the reputation of the profession.

"We know that the vast majority of our teachers and school leaders are hardworking and dedicated professionals.

"That is why we are giving teachers more freedoms than ever and cutting unnecessary paperwork and bureaucracy. In fact, teaching has never been more attractive, more popular or more rewarding.

"A record number of top graduates are now applying to become teachers and there have never been more teachers in England's classrooms, with a rise of 9,000 in the last year."